Took my car in to get the oil and oil filter changed today. All of the mechanics attempted to open the oil filter housing. They had the proper tools and were using a lot of force (I could see them working on it). They ended up changing just the oil, but said I should take it to the Mini dealership to get the filter changed.

Have you ran into this problem before?

Thoughts?

 

Do you know who did the last change? Sounds like they torqued it on good. I'd see what your dealer can do for you.

 

Wow.....must be tight!! I second the dealer... That way if someting breaks when they do finely get the filter housing off, it will be at the place that has the parts to get you back on the road ASAP. Besides....the last time the oil was done might have been at the dealer.....the car depending on it's in service date is not too far out of warrenty....maybe they will do it for nothing thinking they messed-up!

 

That's what happens when techs tighten up the filter as much as possible. Then you drive the car and the heating and expanding of the parts makes them even tighter. See this all the time from Jiffy Lube places, just another reason not to go there.

 

We've had them come into the shop over-torqued. On one occasion, we were unable to remove the cap: it cracked before it budged. Surgery was the order of the day as we removed the oil cooler housing to remove the broken cap. We could have attempted breaking up the cap, piece-by-piece on the car, but the risk was leaving bits of aluminum in the sump. It's worth doing it carefully, since the oil cooler and manifold is something like $240. Usually we can get them by putting a long handled wrench and jarring the cap free.

 

yes - this happened to me with my most recent oil change. the plastic housing busted apart. ended up just changing the oil while the shop got a replacement part. according to MINI, we learned that this is an ever growing problem - apparently this housing piece for the oil filter is now a well stocked part in MINI service/parts departments. got the replacement part and finally got the old housing off and replaced the filter and housing.

it obviously can happen with over torquing, but at the same time if you let the car a bit longer on oil changes (time, not necessarily miles), the housing can become increasingly difficult to remove and possibly break during the oil change.

from what i understand, many newer cars have moved to this type of housing and the problems exist there. obviously, with our minis the problem is exacerbated by how tight the space is and how little room there is to work with when changing the oil.

 

Yeah, 2 weeks ago I had to deal with a rounded off rear differential plug on my Sidekick. Seems the last time I had it serviced, I went to one a Jiffy Lube due to time constraints. Yeah, never again. I've found that it's best to make the time and do it myself. I have to agree with Way. Stay away from thee places.

 

I work for a Toyota dealer and recent models are using those plastic housing, I need a breaker bar sometimes to get them loose!

 

The Mini dealership was able to change the filter without issue. The tech said it just required a little jolt to get it unscrewed.

 

I had to use the handle from my floor jack as a cheater bar to get the filter housing off a couple of friends MINIs. I think it is a combination of being over torqued & not lubing the O-ring.

 

Would it help to try and just loosen the filter when the engine is cold, tighten it all back up. Then start the car, bringing the oil temp up to operating temp and then do the oil change.........

May just be easier to loosen when engine is cold.

 

other way to look at it . . .

on the service side . . .

I think that most of us who have played with cars for a few years will acknowledge that the MINI's filter system is either 'unique' or 'dated'

Face it, that filter in a canister is not exactly the norm today . . .

If a service shop today says they can't handle it ... get the cover off ... what ever

Aren't there two (or more) options

1. I've never seen this b4 but b4 I press so hard as to break something I'll stop.....

2. I'll crank 'till it comes off....it's just an oil filter

While I'd prefer to visit a mech' who knows my car; a mech that is willing to acknowledge he does NOT know my car is a decent idea too.

 

You will see more & more cars come with the canister style filter. I love the spin on ones, but I'm thinking using a canister puts less in the waste stream. That may be why the change over is happening.

 

Wow, deja vu - was having all my oil changes done where I bought the car (Berlin City, Williston, VT) - with the one early last fall came the dreaded "we can't remove the filter, you'll need to bring it to the dealer" - this was after 3-1/2 hours waiting at the shop on a beautiful Friday afternoon (after a week of rain) (it was just an oil and filter change, right?) - when, through my repressed anger, I mentioned that (a) Albany, NY or Boston were the closest dealers (at least 3-1/2 hours one way) and (b) the reason they get this way is not installing properly (over-torquing and/or not lubing the o-ring) - and they had done all my oil changes - and asked them what they were going to do about it. "We didn't charge you" was the only answer I got, along with a phony "Sorry". Steamed, to say the least, I did my road trip - got to my parents house (ordered the socket and filter before leaving and it got there soon after) - tried it there, cool engine, wouldn't budge, added 18" of 3/4"pipe to the ratchet - and broke the rachet! . Next (soon) is try the hot engine way, with a breaker bar, and the old 'www' staged to order a new canister if I break it...

And the @#$%heads still send me notices that it's due back for another change. The last one (email) I responded back that yes it was due, did they know somebody who could do it, as they've demonstrated they aren't capable? Funny, haven't heard back yet...

Worst part? (yes, there's worse) They had 3 used MINI's sitting on the lot for sale - and all their sales offer "free" 1 year maintenance. Poor suckers, don't know what they're in for ...